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Engler Road underpass project in Las Cruces may open Friday

Sun-News report

Posted:
12/27/2012 05:56:32 PM MST

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Officials with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the city will meet Friday to work out final details to open the Engler Road underpass, which will link Del Rey Boulevard to Elks Drive. The underpass, at Interstate 25, has been under construction since February and is all but complete.

LAS CRUCES — A new "alternate route" for motorists getting to and from the East Mesa is about to open — maybe as early as Friday.

Officials with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the city will meet Friday to work out the final details to get the underpass open. The underpass, at Interstate 25, has been under construction since Feb. 6.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation conducted several studies that recommended an alternative underpass be built off of I-25 that connected Elks Drive and Del Rey Boulevard. These studies included I-25 being raised about 15 feet to provide ample vertical clearance for traffic on Engler Road. The I-25 bridge was also built with the capability of accommodating a third lane for future development.

As Las Cruces continues to grow, and it takes longer for people to get from points A to B, more road improvements are being made. Reconstruction of the interchange that merges Interstate 10 with I-25 is under way, and a new overpass at I-10 and Motel Boulevard is nearing completion. Next year, work will start to replace the overpass at I-10 and Avenida de Mesilla.